CMST 100 SYLLABUS
SPEECH & PERFORMANCE ANXIETY MANAGEMENT
WINTER QUARTER, 2011
TIME:10:30-11:20 a.m., TuesdaysLOCATION:Hodson Hall 24 (east end of bldg.)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: CMST 100 is an ELECTIVE course that supports students/professionals who experience moderate to severe anxiety in public and/or group presentation, performance, and/or academic situations by introducing and practicing anxiety management techniques. This course may be taken prior to or concurrently with Communication Studies, speech intensive, or other academic courses or professional speech activities.
INSTRUCTOR: LINDA A. SMITHOFFICE: Hodson Hall-115
PHONE: (360) 416-7810 E-MAIL:
OFFICE HOURS: 10:30 MWThF. Other times available by appointment.
STUDENT EMAIL: The instructor will contact and respond to students via students’ MySVC g-mail accounts. Please check your SVC g-mail account regularly. CMST 100 is also supported by a Blackboard site.
TEXTBOOK : None required. SUPPLEMENTAL READING: As assigned.
REQUIRED SUPPLIES: It is recommended that each student own or have access to a stapler; hole punch; highlighter pen; typewriter, computer, or word processor; 1 paper, three-brad notebook with pocket; and other basic stationery supplies, including paper and writing implements, for note-taking. Do not ask your instructor for these items.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the end of this course, each student should be able to:
1. Understand the influence of culture on communication, specifically
a. Characterizing cultural/gender influences on speech/performance anxiety.
b. Applying culture/gender based strategies to overcome speech/ performance anxiety.
2. Develop critical thinking skills and communication strategies within speech/performance contexts, specifically:
a. Analyzing personal and general speech/performance anxiety obstacles.
b. Adapting anxiety management techniques to individual needs and presentation formats.
c. Demonstrating appropriate listening and supportive techniques as an audience member.
3. Understand and demonstrate basic speech/performance anxiety management techniques, including:
a. Identifying and explaining the causes; physiological, psychological, and behavioral components; and common terminology of speech/performance anxiety management.
b. Practicing anxiety reductions techniques to build confidence in communicating verbally and nonverbally in group and public presentation situations.
c. Applying textbook and supplemental reading assignments and/or library/ technological research to course work.
GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING VALUES AND OUTCOMES: By the end of this course, the following General Education outcomes will be addressed.
1. Information Literacy: Students will be able to (1.5) effectively integrate and use information ethically and legally to accomplish a specific purpose.
2. Critical Thinking: Students will be able to (2.1) identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline; (2.3) identify, interpret, and evaluate pertinent data and previous experience to reach conclusions; (2.4) Evaluate decisions by analyzing outcomes and the impact of actions; (2.8) describe how one’s own preconceptions, biases and values affect one’s response to new and ambiguous situations; and (2.9) apply and/or create problem-solving strategies to successfully adapt to unpredictable and/or changing environments.
3. Communication: Students will be able to (3.1) recognize, read, comprehend, and produce academic and/or professional writing; (3.2) recognize, produce and demonstrate appropriate interpersonal, group, and public speaking skills; (3.3) demonstrate effective listening skills; (3.4) integrate academic and/or professional writing into written and spoken projects; (3.5) recognize, comprehend, and use non-verbal behaviors appropriate to a given context; and (3.7) adapt communication to diverse audiences and media.
4. Community & Cultural Diversity: Students will be able to (4.1) understand, value and respect human differences and commonalities as they relate to issues of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities and culture; (4.3) demonstrate effective communication across differences in human communities and cultures; and (4.4) adapt to and function effectively in communities and cultures different from one's own.
6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility: Students will be able to (6.1) identify ethical and healthy choices and apply these personally, socially, academically, and professionally; (6.3) apply successful organizational strategies of planning, goal setting, prioritizing, resolving conflict, and managing time to specific goals and/or projects; (6.4) use self-reflection to recognize and define a sense of self-identity in personal, social/gender, and/or cultural/global terms and in relationship to others; and (6.5) develop self-monitoring and self-advocacy skills to effect positive life changes.
10. Technology: Students will be able to (10.3) use technology appropriate to the context and task to effectively retrieve and manage information, solve problems, and facilitate communication.
KEYS TO STUDENT SUCCESS (or how to get a good grade):
1. Reading
a. Read the syllabus carefully during the first two weeks of the quarter, asking questions to clarity it contents.
b. Complete reading assignments as assigned to prepare for class.
2. Listening/Following Directions
a. Listen carefully to explanations of assignments in class, high-lighting important points and asking questions to clarify directions.
b. Apply active listening skills to class lectures and discussions avoiding side conversations while others are speaking.
3. Attending/ Participating
a. Arrive on time and attend class regularly, avoiding excessive absences and tardies.
b. Participate in various classroom activities, exercises, and discussions designed to enhance learning through doing.
c. Verify your attendance with the instructor at the end of class if you are tardy or late.
d. Obtain notes, handouts, and assignments on your own initiative for work missed during absences or tardies.
4. Managing Time
a. Submit all assignments on time avoiding zeros or late work.
b. Certain assignments/projects may not be accepted after the due date/deadline.
c. Alert your instructor to any special circumstances which may prevent you from completing an assignment, project, or presentation on time at least TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE of its due date.
d. Practice appropriate time management skills in preparing handouts and assignments or speeches. Avoid procrastinating.
ATTENDANCE/ABSENCES/LATE WORK:
1. Attendance will be taken daily. All absences affect your participation grade, including those for illness, except for verified college-related activities or schedule conflicts cleared IN ADVANCE by the instructor. Your presence in class is vital to the success of the class for everyone.
2. An unexcused absence or tardy on PRESENTATION days will result in a zero grade. For some assignments, like group work or presentations, students will not be able to make up missed work.
3. If you are absent, you may need to telephone or e-mail your instructor before returning to class:
a. To make arrangements to turn in any assignments due.
b. To ask questions about how to make-up missed assignments, presentations, and/or tests.
c. To explain an extended absence (two or more days).
4. Due dates will NOT be extended due to absences. Consult your course schedule or Blackboard and contact your instructor or classmates to BE PREPARED when you return to class.
5. Late assignments, tests, or presentations will be accepted for grading only if a student has made arrangements with the instructor IN ADVANCE or can provide a LEGITIMATE, DOCUMENTED REASON either during the absence or after the fact.
6. FAULTY TECHNOLOGY (broken computers, printers, or cars, for example) or BREAKDOWNS IN GROUP PROCESS are NOT legitimate excuses for turning in work late. Successful students need to anticipate potential panic scenarios and develop contingency plans.
PARTICIPATION: You must be present in the classroom to earn daily participation points based on one or more of the following:
1. Listening. Because listening—to your instructor and to other students—is vital to the communication process, you will receive a listening point for each designated class you demonstrate effective listening skills.
2. Class activities and assignments. You may be asked to produce work during or outside of class to submit for evaluation or discussion in class.
3. Note-taking. You are expected to take notes during lectures and explanations of activities. You may be asked to submit your notes (without warning) for participation points.
GRADING: Instructors for this learning community will provide separate grades for the Math and CMST courses. The CMST grade will combine both the CMST and Counseling classes. For CMST 100, you may access your grades via Blackboard Gradebook, and the following grading information will apply:
1. Graded Assignments:PointsGen Ed Outcomes:
Journal (9 @ 10 pts.) 900.2, 0.3 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 2.8, 2.9, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 4.1 4.4, 6.1, 6.4, 6.5
Participation/Activities (10 @ 10 pts.) 1002.3, 3.3, 3.5, 6.4, 10.3
Introductory Speech 102.3, 3.2, 3.4, 4.3, 6.3
Final Presentation 1000.5, 3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 4.3, 6.3
TOTAL: 300
2. Grading Scale:
93%-100%A77%-79.4%C+59.5%-62.9%D-
89.5%-92.9%A-73%-76.9%C0%-59.4%E
87%-89.4%B+ 69.5%-72.9%C-
83%-86.9%B67%-69.4%D+
79.5%-82.9%B-63%-66.9%D
3. P & N Grades: Students will be eligible for P (pass/fail) or N (audit) grades only by agreement of student and instructor during the first two weeks of each quarter. P/N grades are not recommended for degree-seeking students.
4. Incomplete Grades: The instructor will consider contracting with a student for an incomplete grade only in a documented emergency situation. No incompletes will be granted for simply getting behind in the course work.
5. Academic Honor Code: All students of Skagit Valley College are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Academic Honor Code of this institution found at . Violations of this code include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct are reported to the student conduct officer. Students found to be in violation of the Academic Honor Code are subject to academic consequences up to and including failure of the course. Students may also be subject to college disciplinary sanctions up to and including expulsion from the College.”
In CMST 100, you are expected to submit original work with the sources of all quoted material properly identified using an accepted citation format (MLA, APA, etc.). Any student found to have turned in work other than his/her own will receive a zero on that assignment, face disciplinary action according to Skagit Valley College guidelines and policies. A pattern of academic dishonesty may result in a failing grade and/or expulsion from the course.
6. Withdrawal: At SVC, you may withdraw from a class without instructor approval through the sixth week of the quarter. After that time, your instructor must sign a special withdrawal card. Your instructor will sign only when there is a documented emergency such as a serious illness, accident, or death in the family. Hardship withdrawals are not given for getting behind in the course work.
7. Final Course Grades: Grades are unofficial until processed by Registration. Students are strongly recommended to keep all graded work/tests until they have verified the accuracy of the final grade for this course/learning community on their transcripts.
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: If you are a student with a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services in the Counseling Center to arrange accommodations. SVC and your instructor are committed to making every effort to meet students’ needs.
LEARNING INTO ACTION: Students who have completed at least 45 college credits may choose to meet their Learning Into Action requirement by taking CMST 299. CMST 299 can be taken concurrently with (during) CMST 100 or at any time after prior to graduation. If you are interested/ eligible, see your instructor for more information and project ideas.
EMERGENCIES AND WEATHER: Go to the following websites or listen to radio and TV stations for SVC emergency and weather announcements: Check for announcements on the SVC website at or Or in Anacortes tune into KLKI 1340 AM; in Bellingham KPUG1170 AM, KGMI 790 AM, KISM 92.9 FM, KAFE 104.3 FM, KVOS-TV Ch. 12; in Mount Vernon KBRC 1430 AM, KAPS 660 AM, KSVR 91.7 FM (SVC radio station); and in Seattle KIRO 710 AM, KOMO 1000 AM, KIRO-TV Ch.7, KOMO-TV Ch. 4, KING-TV, Ch. 5, or KONG-TV, Ch. 6.
EQUITY STATEMENT: In this course, faculty and students will engage each other by
1. Valuing differences in people, cultures, and ideas.
2. Hearing people out, with open minds, while still reserving the right to disagree.
3. Acting respectfully toward fellow students, faculty, and campus property.
4. Expressing themselves without using sexual harassment or degrading ethnic, racial, sexist, or homophobic remarks, actively seeking to discourage or prevent such behavior.
5. Reading and upholding SVC policies on student and faculty rights.
CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT: No one has the right to interfere with the learning process in the classroom. To decrease distractions, please observe the following:
1. Reserve private conversations for outside of the classroom.
2. If you bring snacks or drink into the classroom, you must clean up after yourself or food rights will be revoked. Avoid bringing an entire meal to class. Be quiet and discreet about eating/drinking.
3. If you carry personal electronic devices (pager or cell phone, for example), turn them off while you are in class. Emergency personnel may be exempted from this rule. (See your instructor.) Headphones/ personal music players should not be used during class.
FINAL REMARKS: This syllabus is a contract between you and the instructor, outlining the policies and procedures for your successful completion of this course. You are responsible for reading and clarifying its contents during the first two weeks of the quarter to ensure you understand the expectations of the class you are beginning. Together we can make this a valuable learning experience for everyone.
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